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Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

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USA Hiking

Bubbling thermal springs. Volcanic peaks and craters. Pristine turquoise lakes. Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in the northeast corner of California, is an under-the-radar National Park home to a prehistoric landscape dotted with thermal hot spots and volcanoes. Here are the best things to do in Lassen National Park!

28 Epic Things to do in Lassen National Park, California: The Ultimate Guide to Lassen

Bubbling thermal springs. Volcanic peaks and craters. Pristine turquoise lakes. Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in the northeast corner of California, is an under-the-radar National Park home to a prehistoric landscape dotted with thermal … [Read more...] about 28 Epic Things to do in Lassen National Park, California: The Ultimate Guide to Lassen

Napa Valley is a lot of fun, and that's not just the wine talking. But is there anything to do in Napa besides drinking a lot of really good wine? Well, yes! There's rugged mountains, steamy hot springs, rolling vineyards, hot air balloons, incredible food, and even a few spirits - both the drinks AND the ghosts! Here are all the best things to do in Napa.

19 Fabulous Things To Do in Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley is a lot of fun, and that's not just the wine talking. Rugged mountains, steamy hot springs, rolling vineyards, and 260 days of sunshine is as appealing for tourists as it is for vines; although I’m willing to bet that we have more fun! … [Read more...] about 19 Fabulous Things To Do in Napa Valley, California

Yosemite in winter is just as beautiful (arguably more) in the winter - and MUCH less crowded. Here's everything you need to plan a trip to Yosemite National Park in winter!

12 Stunning Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California in Winter

Freshly fallen snow dusting towering redwoods. A waterfall that looks like lava. A 17th century English feast?? Wait, are we still talking about Yosemite National Park? Yes, y'all: Yosemite in winter is a whole new park! If you've only visited … [Read more...] about 12 Stunning Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California in Winter

Train rides through fall foliage. Fresh apple cider. Fabulously haunted hotels. Imagine sipping on a hot cup of cider and munching on homemade apple cider donuts from the country’s oldest orchard while riding a train up a mountain to view vibrant fall colors. This cozy feeling is a glimpse of what New Hampshire in the fall feels like! To help plan the best fall in New Hampshire adventure (with lots of leaf-peeping guaranteed), our writer rounded up the must-see towns and cities filled with scenic drives, state parks, apple orchards, historic bridges, and more. Throw on your coziest sweater and let's go!

10 Charming Places to Experience Fall in New Hampshire

Train rides through fall foliage. Fresh apple cider. Haunted fabulous hotels. Imagine you're sipping on a hot cup of cider and munching on homemade apple cider donuts from the country’s oldest orchard. You're crunching on leaves and breathing in … [Read more...] about 10 Charming Places to Experience Fall in New Hampshire

Ancient mountains, misty forests, waterfalls, a ghost town, underground caverns, and a scenic road to nowhere: welcome to the country’s most visited National Park! Hikers, sightseers, spelunkers, white-water rafting fans and waterfall enthusiasts flock to Great Smoky Mountains National Park throughout the year to enjoy this enchanting swath of Appalachian wilderness located on the border of eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. Here's everything you need to plan your trip.

12 Epic Things to Do in Smoky Mountain National Park (& MASSIVE Travel Guide)

Ancient mountains, misty forests, waterfalls, a ghost town, underground caverns, and a scenic road to nowhere: welcome to the country’s most visited National Park! Hikers, sightseers, spelunkers, white-water rafting fans and waterfall enthusiasts … [Read more...] about 12 Epic Things to Do in Smoky Mountain National Park (& MASSIVE Travel Guide)

The best hikes in Louisville, Kentucky! Also includes the best hikes NEAR Louisville.

The Best 13 Hikes in Louisville, Kentucky (A Local’s Guide)

If there are three things that make Louisville (and all of Kentucky) special, it's bourbon, horses, and beautiful forested landscapes. But people don't talk about Louisville's natural beauty enough! Like, did you know that Louisville is home to the … [Read more...] about The Best 13 Hikes in Louisville, Kentucky (A Local’s Guide)

On this Utah National Parks road trip, you'll canyoneer through slot canyons, ride horses and ATVs, hike through a river canyon, watch the sunrise over a hoodoo-filled canyon, and catch a sunset through a massive stone arch. You'll visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. And you'll discover why Utah's Mighty Five are considered some of the best National Parks in the country, all on one epic Utah road trip!

The Perfect 10-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Guide

Red rocks, stone arches, colorful hoodoos, hidden slot canyons, and alpine forests. Utah’s five National Parks, called the Mighty 5, are spread out across the state and feature a mind-blowing range of desert and mountain ecosystems, from the … [Read more...] about The Perfect 10-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Guide

14 epic things to do in Yosemite National Park, California!

15 Epic Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California

Towering sequoias. Raging waterfalls. Soaring granite cliffs. Yosemite is one of the oldest National Parks in the country, and in our very biased opinion as Yosemite's Bay Area-based neighbors, it's also the best. And the most beautiful. But hey, … [Read more...] about 15 Epic Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California

Sheer cliffs. Crashing waves. Misty redwoods. Big Sur, California is a rugged stretch of stunning coastline on Highway One between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it’s home to some of the dreamiest campsites in California! Camping in Big Sur means setting up your tent on ocean cliffs and in redwood groves, next to babbling brooks and lazy rivers, and underneath bright stars and wheeling galaxies. So pack your swimsuit (and maybe a wetsuit) for the beach and your hiking boots for the trails, and read on to find tips for the perfect Big Sur camping trip and the best Big Sur campgrounds.

14 Beautiful Big Sur Campgrounds: The Best Camping in Big Sur, California

Sheer cliffs. Crashing waves. Misty redwoods. Big Sur, California is a rugged stretch of stunning coastline on Highway One between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it’s home to some of the dreamiest campsites in California! Camping in Big Sur means … [Read more...] about 14 Beautiful Big Sur Campgrounds: The Best Camping in Big Sur, California

Crystal-clear aquamarine water. Sandy beaches. Towering pine trees. Snow-capped mountains. Welcome to Lake Tahoe, California: the most stunning alpine lake in the country! Although many folks think of Lake Tahoe as a world-famous ski destination, summer at Lake Tahoe is completely different - and full of its own charm and outdoor beauty. (And ghosts. Lots of ghosts.) Ringed by white-sand beaches and trails crisscrossing through sequoia and pine forests and along sheer granite cliffs, the best way to experience Lake Tahoe in the summer is outside: on a trail, on a boat, or on a beach. Our travel guide to summer in Lake Tahoe has everything you need to know to plan your trip, and all the best Lake Tahoe summer activities!

The Ultimate Lake Tahoe Summer Guide: 12 Things to Do for the Perfect Summer at Lake Tahoe

Crystal-clear aquamarine water. Sandy beaches. Towering pine trees. Snow-capped mountains. Welcome to Lake Tahoe, California: the most stunning alpine lake in the country, all year round! Although many folks think of Lake Tahoe as a world-famous ski … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Lake Tahoe Summer Guide: 12 Things to Do for the Perfect Summer at Lake Tahoe

Things to do in Zion National Park, Utah, from hiking to stargazing! Plus, things to know before you go, where to stay at Zion, and more.

The Ultimate Guide to Zion & 9 Awe-Inspiring Things To Do in Zion National Park, Utah

Striped sandstone cliffs looming over a lush green valley. Turquoise lagoons tucked between soaring red walls. Millions of stars twinkling overhead. Zion National Park, meaning "heavenly city", is the oldest National Park in Utah and the most visited … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Guide to Zion & 9 Awe-Inspiring Things To Do in Zion National Park, Utah

The 8 best hikes in Salt Lake City, from Ensign Peak to Cecret Lake to Bells Canyon! Waterfalls, mountains, and more hiking in and around Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Best 8 Hikes Near Salt Lake City, Utah (A Local’s Guide)

Encircled by two looming mountain ranges - the Wasatch Mountains to the east and north ranges and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west - Salt Lake City is an outdoor paradise within a state full of natural beauty! Just minutes outside of the … [Read more...] about The Best 8 Hikes Near Salt Lake City, Utah (A Local’s Guide)

The 8 Best Campgrounds in Colorado

Grand mountains. Rustling plains. Towering sand dunes. Spectacular lakes. Nope, we're not talking about the entire United States: you can find absolutely all of this stunning scenery right in Colorado! From the grandeur of Rocky Mountain National … [Read more...] about The 8 Best Campgrounds in Colorado

The 10 best Southern California hikes near Los Angeles and San Diego, from Joshua Tree to the Channel Islands to Anza Borrego to Mount Baldy to Torres Pines and more. Go hiking in California!

10 Best Hikes in Southern California (a Local’s Guide)

Snow-covered mountains. Rushing waterfalls. Secluded beaches. Otherwordly desert landscapes. If this description of Southern California surprises you, it's time to head out and explore! Stretching from just north of Los Angeles all the way south … [Read more...] about 10 Best Hikes in Southern California (a Local’s Guide)

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are full of stunning places to go hiking. Here are 8 scenic day hikes in California's eastern Sierra Nevada mountains!

8 Scenic Day Hikes in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, California

The Sierra Nevadas are a rugged mountain range in eastern California containing several absolutely stunning and world-famous outdoor destinations, including Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the John Muir … [Read more...] about 8 Scenic Day Hikes in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, California

10 Incredible Zion Hikes: a Complete Guide To Hiking in Zion National Park

Zion National Park, Utah, is freaking beautiful. It's what people are referring to when they say things like "the most amazing destinations in the United States are its National Parks." The red cliffs rising high above the green foliage elicit the … [Read more...] about 10 Incredible Zion Hikes: a Complete Guide To Hiking in Zion National Park

Cataract Falls Hike in Marin California

The Cataract Falls Hike Disaster: Hiking in the Bay Area, California

For Lia and I, "hiking" and "absolute disaster" go hand in hand. It's an unfortunate pattern that popped up over and over again during our year-long honeymoon. There was the injured wrist on the Valle de Cocora hike in Colombia. There was the … [Read more...] about The Cataract Falls Hike Disaster: Hiking in the Bay Area, California

The 8 best day hikes near Denver, Colorado that you've never heard of. Avoid crowds and take in the mountains on these incredible hikes in Colorado!

The 8 Best Day Hikes Near Denver, Colorado (That Nobody Knows About)

Denver, Colorado is the gateway the some of the most beautiful mountain passes, winding back-country trails, and scenic vistas in the United States. And as someone who lives in California, that’s high praise. We Californians like to joke that … [Read more...] about The 8 Best Day Hikes Near Denver, Colorado (That Nobody Knows About)

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